NCJ Number
120868
Journal
State Legislative Report Volume: 14 Issue: 9 Dated: (June 1989) Pages: 1-6
Date Published
1989
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This report on a 50-State survey by the National Conference of State Legislatures provides information on State bills and acts from the 1988 legislative sessions, programs, and task force activity related to the problem of teen-age pregnancy.
Abstract
By the end of 1988, teen pregnancy legislation had been enacted in 38 States, compared to only 9 States 3 years ago. Legislative task forces to study the teen pregnancy problem have been proposed in nearly one-third of the States. The steady increase in teen pregnancy legislation from 1985 through 1987 reflects three legislative trends. First, legislators generally are interested in school-based pregnancy prevention and intervention strategies. Second, a number of bills emphasize comprehensive services for pregnant and parenting teens. Many dropout-prevention strategies, for example, not only promote the advantages of obtaining a high school degree but also help teen parents complete their education by assisting with child care while they attend school or receive job training to provide incentives to graduate. Third, legislators are proposing better coordination of services and programs for the pregnant and parenting teens and more efficient and economical delivery of those services. A chart shows the various categories of teen pregnancy and parenting legislation passed in each State through October 1988.